Mixed media on canvas

121 x 152 cm. 47 5/8 x 59 7/8 in.

Signed in English on middle right
PROVENANCE
Amanda Wei Gallery, Hong Kong
Private Collection, Asia

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist issued by Amanda Wei Gallery, Hong Kong

Wonderful and Fun, Faithful to Self
Ceet's Festivity of Chicks

Graffiti artist Ceet Fouad was born in Algeria in 1971 and later moved to France, the country of his citizenship. Since 1988, he and his friends created a group called La Terrasse Possée and as such have painted graffiti around their neighborhood and participated in several important art exhibitions in Europe. In 2001, Fouad arrived in China. Because of the language barrier, while ordering food, he used to draw a chicken (of which he is rather fond) to indicate what he wanted to eat. Therefore, an artistic depiction of chicks has become a medium for his communication with an unfamiliar culture. Over time, this unique form of imagery has won the hearts of the public. As a leading figure of contemporary graffiti art, Fouad has participated in exhibitions in 11 countries.

A Microcosmic Society, Issues on Human World

Ceet uses rich colours such as yellow, blue, violet, green etc, to draw a group of chicken in Les Marrakchis (Lot 83). At the first glimpse, they all look similar with plump bodies, round eyes and the standing red cockscomb. However, viewers will find every chicken distinct if they take a closer look at them. The colourful chickens are paying attention to different issues, and bear different joys and sorrows. Ceet creates the organized world with his favourite representation, chickens. Meanwhile, with the fully filled canvas, he also conveys his reflection about the deeper social issue that there is a lack of privacy protection in the contemporary society when people are getting more connected via the Internet that get themselves exposed completely.

Troubles of the Adolescents, Sincere Advice for Peers

In comparison, School Time (Lot 82) is an interpretation of the adolescent age. The first impression viewers may get from the painting could be letters written with chalks on the blackboard. A shocked chicken reclines on the blackboard, looking back at the blackboard at a loss. It looks so puzzled that it resembles an adolescent distracted from a class occasionally. A mini chicken is standing on its chubby belly, looking straight into its eyes as if asking for a conversation. Almost any viewer can recall his/her own memories back in the school. Words like 'Texas Austin,' 'Sex' and the shape of a heart drawn on the blackboard point to the emerging cravings in adolescence for love, desire and travel. At the bottom part there is a plain sentence saying “Don't worry, be happy,” which could be a piece of sincere advice Ceet wishes for the adults.

Price estimate:
HKD: 70,000 – 150,000
USD: 9,000 – 19,400

Auction Result:
HKD: 84,960